Lora Szafran and Wojciech Niedziela's New Presentation
Lonesome Dancer
Polish Jazz vol.76

Label: Polskie Nagrania - Muza , 1989/2006
Catalogue No: PNCD 1076 (SX 2840)
Format: CD (24-bit re-mastered from original master tapes)

Tracks:

1. Summertime (G. Gershwin - Du Bose Heyward, I. Gershwin) [05:13] 
2. Sweet Love To Keep (W. Niedziela - J. Siemasz) [03:49] 
3. New York Lament (H. Silver) [04:38] 
4. 'Round Midnight (T. Monk, C. Williams, B. Hanighen) [05:15] 
5. My Funny Valentine (R. rodgers, L. Hart) [03:45] 
6. Lonesome Dancer (B. suchanek - R. Mitchell) [05:07] 
7. Kiss Me Right (H. Silver) [03:35] 
8. Sleep Safe And Warm (K. Komeda - L. Kusik, E. Snyder) / Lullaby From The Motion Picture 'Rosemary's Baby' [04:39] 
9. A Melancholy Prayer (W. Niedziela - J. Siemasz) [05:14] 

Performed by:

Lora Szafran - vocal
Wojciech Niedziela - piano
Jacek Niedziela - bass
Piotr Wojtasik - trumpet
Adam Czerwinski - drums

Recorded:

May - June 1989, Polskie Nagrania Studio, Warsaw, Poland

About:

Lora Szafran graduated from the Department of Jazz and Pop Music in Katowice in 1986 and since then she has been considered one of the leading jazz vocalists in Poland. Still as a student, she cooperated with Walk Away, one of the most popular jazz bands in Poland. In 1984 she won first place at the International Competition of Jazz Vocalists in Zamosc. Since 1988 she has cooperated with one of the best acoustic jazz collaborations- New Presentation. She recorded two albums with the group: Lonesome Dancer (recognized as the jazz album of the year 1989) and You've Changed (1993). Lora Szafran's singing performance is not related to jazz only. During her career she has frequently took part in international festivals, she won Grand Prix and Bursztynowy Slowik (Amber Nightingale) at Sopot '90, Bregenea-Austria '90, Cesme-Turkey 91. She accomplished two pop albums: "W Gore Slowa" (1991) and "Tylko Chopin" (1994). The vocalist recently has cooperated with Wlodzimierz Nahorny, which resulted in releasing the album "Spiewnik Nahornego".

Wojciech Niedziela – jazz pianist, composer; graduated from the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Musci in Katowice where he attended the class of piano led by prof. A. Zubek. Since 1991 he has been connected with the Jazz Institute (Composition, Interpretation, Education and Jazz Deaprtment) – at first as an assistant, at present as a senior assistant leading the class of Jazz Piano and the Jazz Harmony. Mr Niedziela has accomplished about 30 CD records with such performers as: J. Pt. Wroblewski, P. Wojtasik, E. Kulm, M. Kulenty, L. Szafran. He also made 4 records on his own, from which “To Kiss the Ivories” brought him 2 nominations to the Fryderyki Prize for the year 2000. Wojciech Niedziela is a laureate of many national and international competitions, among others:
1985 – Ist Prize – Leverkusen Jazz Days /Leverkusen – Germany/
1985 – Grand Prix – Jazz Piano Players Competition / Kalisz-Poland/
1983 – Ist Prize – Jazz Improvisation Competition / Katowice- Poland/
He was also twice awarded the Stanislaw Wyspianski Young Artists’ Prize. Mr Niedziela has performed in famous jazz clubs (Montmartre, New Morning, A-Trane, Birdland) in Europe and USA; cooperated with leading artists of the international jazz scene such as: D. Liebman, M. Mainieri, D. Friedman, E. Henderson, B. Mollenhoff. His alumni include M. Tokaj, P.Wylezol, P. Wrombel, M. Wasilewski, P. Raminiak.